Group A
18.30 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v AN Brescia (ITA)
Two years ago the main round also kicked off with this match, that time played in Brescia and it ended 9-9 as the Greeks could score two goals in the last 78 seconds to save a point. Now in Piraeus they are the overwhelming favourites. Last season they won 5 in 5 home matches and only their last encounter against Eger was close, the others saw Olympiacos winning with ease. In fact, the Greek champion had only a single loss in the previous edition, in the final against Jug. Brescia had a fine run in the qualification, still, with a couple of fine foreigners joining Olympiacos, the hosts will look for a convincing win. They are 5 for 5 in the domestic league, scored 81 goals, a 16.2 average-per-game.
Theodoros Vlachos, head coach, Olympiacos:
“The first game of a competition is always very important, especially when you play at home. Our opponent is a very strong team, but I think that we are ready for this game, and believe in ourselves that we will prevail. We always have great expectations for this competition and we want to start with a good win.”
Albert Espanol, player, Olympiacos:
“We know that the game against Brescia is the most important game we will play since the start of the season. We have been working hard on our first game in the competition for a long time and I think we are ready for this. The first thing I have learnt since my arrival from Barcelona is that our fans are very loyal and passionate about the team. I am sure that in Wednesday they will be our extra player in the game!”
Alessandro Bovo, head coach, Brescia:
“No doubt, there could not be any tougher debut. Olympiacos was finalist in 2016 and is still one of the main candidates for the final triumph. Last summer the Greeks have done important investements and now, with Espanol, Buslje, Pavic and Mladjan Janovic, they’re in pole position for the challenge. Anyway, we’ll go to Athens to play our game and to do our best to achieve a good result.”
19.00 A Hid-OSC Budapest (HUN) v Szolnoki Dozsa Kozgep (HUN)
Another fine duel, an all-Hungarian battle with loads of international stars at both sides. The teams met last season in the prelims as well, Szolnok won both matches (8-7 at home, 12-6 away), however, back in October it was OSC which halted the Hungarian champion’s unbeaten run in their Szolnok pool when they upset their arch-rival 11-14 in the second round of the home season. Just a week ago Szolnok ruled the rematch and won 7-11 in Budapest. Szolnok has a secured berth in the F6 as the host, still, they don’t wish to rely on that advantage. For sure, a thrilling encounter is in sight.
Balázs Vincze, head coach, OSC
“I’m looking forward to our first game in the group stage. Last year we lost that against Jug, which was crucial for us, we had never recovered. So it is important to start on the right foot and set the tone for the whole season. It is also very important for the whole season not to lose points at any of the home matches, if you have any expectations about making it to the Final Six.
Dávid Bisztritsányi, captain, OSC:
“I very much wait for our first game in the Champions League main round. We are looking forward to get revenge on Szolnok, who beat us last Wednesday in a Hungarian league game (so we are 1-1 in the season). I think we have learned a lot from last week’s match, and we are in a much better shape, it should be a very exciting game, a good game to start with.”
Sándor Cseh, head coach, Szolnok:
“Last week we had two very important and big encounters and won both. It will be difficult to keep this level but we will do our best. The first game is always difficult, like this is going to be. However, we’d like to start our campaign with a win in order to finish atop in the group.”
Viktor Nagy, goalkeeper, Szolnok:
“We would like to continue our good series against OSC. We know they will prepare well for this game and will give us a hard time. Still, I am expecting a win in a really tough match. Our target is to finish first in our group.”
19.30 Olympic Nice (FRA) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
Though these two sides are regarded the underdogs in this group, they are both capable of causing upsets. To stay in the hunt for the F6 berths as long as possible winning this match is pretty important for both sides. Spandau might enjoy a slight advantage besides being the more experienced team in international waters as their head coach, Peter Kovacevic worked in France for years and has a deep knowledge on the current rival.
Samuel Nardon, head coach, Nice:
“Spandau has a very good team, being accustomed to the atmosphere of the Champions League for many years. This is a great opportunity for our club to evaluate our true level in the most difficult competition in Europe. We are motivated and we want to progress with each game.”
Manuel Laversanne, captain, Nice:
“For the whole team it is a huge joy and pride to play in the Champions League. We have the chance to play the best European teams “
Peter Kovacevic, head coach, Spandau:
“This is my third season with Spandau and now I really want to see our first Champions League win outside Germany. If we can play with discipline and give our best we have a strong chance to win in Nice and make a good start in the season.”
Remis Saudadier, player, Spandau:
“I am happy to return to Nice, the place where I played for years. I will show my good old French friends how we play waterpolo in Spandau.”
Group B
19.30 CN Barceloneta (ESP) v Partizan Raiffeisen Belgrade (SRB)
After four successive appearances in the Final 4/6 – including two with secured berth as the host team – Barceloneta seems to face the toughest challenge after losing another key scorers. After Felipe Perrone had moved to Dubrovnik last season, this summer Albert Espanol said good bye to Barcelona and joined Olympiacos – so Barceloneta had to play without the respective MVPs of the 2014 and 2015 editions (Perrone earned the distinction last May as well, playing for Jug). Still, playing with Partizan is a fitting opener as the young Serbs lack the real international experience (with the exception of their lone Olympic gold medallist, Nikola Jaksic).
Chus Martin, head coach, Barceloneta:
“For me, Partizan runs one of the best schools in Europe. Many of the best players in the world have come out of this great club, but it is true that right now these players play in the best teams in Europe. Still, we respect Partizan a lot because it hasn´t stopped shaping great young players with a lot of talent. We must be very focused and play a perfect match if we want to earn our first three points.”
20.15 Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v ZF Eger (HUN)
Perhaps a piece of good news for Eger that they can clash Jug in the prelims as the Croats stopped them on both occasions they reached the F6: Jug won 10-8 and 8-6 in the first days of the last two editions. If Eger reaches the final stage they won’t meet Jug on the opening day of the F6 for sure – however, it’s going to be a tough journey. And its start cannot be any tougher, visiting the title-holder in its home. Jug will field the same line-up and look for another win: in the last two seasons they had 9 wins and 1 draw in their 10 matches played in Dubrovnik.
Vjekoslav Kobescak, head coach, Jug:
“Finally we can start. We respect Eger despite they lost Biros, Szivos and Zalanki, but Decker and young Kovacs joined the team and they will be very competitive this year. We played against them in the Final Six last June, and in my opinion it was our worst match in Budapest though we won. I hope we will start competition with a win again.”
Marko Bijac, captain, Jug:
“We worked hard from the beginning of our preparations and now we are starting the serious business. Now we have a series of tough matches ahead of us. Eger has belonged to the top of European water polo in recent years. Their foreign players are very strong individually, with Hosnyanszky and one of the best hole players Harai they form a really respectable opponent.”
Norbert Dabrowski, head coach, ZF-Eger:
“We know we will play in the home of the best team in the world, it won’t be an easy mission. We respect Jug, they are the defending champions. I think our team is good enough to play against anyone and anywhere with a chance to win. We are in good shape, I am optimistic. We will win!”
Branislav Mitrovic, captain, ZF-Eger:
“A really hard series will start for us now, we were waiting for that. I think we are in a good physical condition, but against Dubrovnik we need to be on the top mentally and tactically as well. If we can play “six on six” then won’t face problems. Jug is a really great team, they won the Champions League in Budapest. To win in Dubrovnik is very difficult task, but now we have a chance. It will be a great battle!”
Norbert Hosnyanszky, player, ZF-Eger:
“For me the statistics are not important. I’m interested in earning points! We know what we want. Their swimming pool is labelled as a fearful place, but this is true for ours as well. We need to take care of Perrone. This is not the best time for us as we have some players missing, but we want to acquire point or points and I think our team is able to achieve that.”
Balazs Erdelyi, player, ZF-Eger:
“It is good that we are in this phase of the Champions League. We need to do our best in every training and match. Now we travel to Dubrovnik, after that to Belgrade, and finally we will play against Pro Recco at home, so it will be a hard series. Now Jug is the best team, this fact stimulates us!”
20.30 Pro Recco (ITA) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
A seemingly easy opener for Recco, which demolished its opponents at home last season, their closest game was a 3-goal win against Szolnok (coming back from 0-5) and in four of the five matches the Italian champion netted at least 14 goals. In fact, the 2015 winners are 10 for 10 at home in the last two seasons and in the regular time they lost only twice in 26 matches (F6s included).
For the Germans, who are newcomers in the League, it’s going to be a tough debut but with a couple of fine experienced Montenegrins in their line-up they might force a close contest.
Vladimir Vujasinovic, head coach, Recco:
“First match, first big challenge. We had a really good joint training camp with Olympiacos so we are ready to play against Hannover.”
Karsten Seehafer, head coach, Hannover:
“Every year a little bit better, today it’s not the end, see what it is possible…”
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